Celebrating Innovation in Mathematics
The evening opened with a celebration as Dr. Jonathan Swanson, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, and Dr. Diane Earl, Director of Continuous Improvement and Leadership Development from the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), presented FVSD with a landmark grant award.
Out of a highly competitive countywide applicant pool, FVSD was chosen as one of only six school districts to receive the Orange County Innovation Funding Initiative Award. The grant provides up to $525,000 over three years to support and scale the district's innovative Math Learning Lab model.
The Math Learning Lab model transforms traditional professional development by using structured classroom lab cycles where teachers observe real-time student thinking, analyze work, and refine lessons collaboratively. A core focus of the program is closing achievement gaps for English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. Board members and staff extended sincere thanks to OCDE Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean and the district's educational services team for securing the grant.
2025–2026 Unaudited Actuals Presentation
Following the celebration, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Isidro Guerra and Director of Fiscal Services Pooja Shah presented the staff report on the 2025–2026 Unaudited Actuals. The presentation provided the Board with final actual revenue and expenditure totals as the district officially closed its financial books for the preceding fiscal year.
Highlights from the financial presentation included:
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Unrestricted General Fund: Ended the year in a healthy surplus, driven by higher-than-anticipated residual income revenues and reduced local contributions required for special education.
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Fiscal Responsibility & Grant Management: The district successfully spent 100% of its initial Emergency Block Grant and Educator Effectiveness funds by their mandated deadlines, ensuring no grant dollars were returned to the state.
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Positive Fund Balances: All secondary district funds closed out the fiscal year with positive balances under Board oversight.
Looking ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, FVSD's business leaders noted that while new one-time state funds (such as additional block grant rounds) provide strategic flexibility, the district will continue monitoring enrollment trends and rising operational costs to ensure long-term fiscal stability.